Bob-sleigh



NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

JAMES F. PLATT, OF STERLING, ILLINOIS.

BOB-SLEIGH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 396,232, dated January 15, 1889.

Application filed September 28, 1888. Serial No. 286,664. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES F. PLATT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sterling, in the county of lVhiteside and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bob-Sleds; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to-which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has reference to certain improvements in bob-sleds, and is more especially applicable to that class of bob-sleds in which each runner has a freedom of oscillatory movement in a vertical plane.

In the most approved and modern constructions of bob-sleds the cross-beam is pivotally seated upon the rods or bench-braces which extend from the cross-beam or bench to the runner. This construction, while it has the advantage of permitting each runner freedom of oscillation vertically by severing the rigid connection heretofore between the runners and cross-beam upon which the bolster is seated, leaves the cross-beam and its bolster without any mechanism or connection adapt-ed to hold them in a vertical position, and therefore the movement of the wagonbox or other imposed load has the effect of vibrating the rear bolster back and forward and crowding the latter out of a vertical posi tion.

One part of my invention, therefore, is to interpose mechanism between the reach and the rear beam and bolster by means of which the reach, without any draft or wear upon itself, is utilized to maintain the vertical position of the rear beam and bolster.

The second part of my invention consists in means for permitting the lateral rocking of the sled, suchas occurs when one of the runners passes over an obstacle or into a depression, without twisting the reach.

This has been attempted heretofore by swiveling the reach at or near its connection with the front sled. An objection to this is that the draft of the rear sled, which is constantly upon said swivel, prevents the freedom of the action of the latter and results in more or less twisting of the reach in the rear of said swiveled point.

In my invention, which consists of the illterposition between the reach and, the rear bolster and beam of a metallic box fitted to said reach and adapted to rotate therewith and between said bolster and beam, perfect freedom of lateral oscillation is permitted both the front and rear sleds.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of a rear bob-sled provided with my invention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the junction of the reach with the sledbeam and bolster of the rear sled. Fig. 3 is a cross-section in the line 9: at of Fig. 2.

As my invention pertains to .the mode of connecting the two sleds, and the latter are otherwise of the usual construction, I do not deem it necessary to show or describe the same'further than to render intelligible the construction, mode of attachment, and operation of my invention.

A is a reach, which is preferably made with flat upper and lower surfaces, and is rigidly attached centrally at its front end in any suitable mode to the front sled.

C is a rear sled, which has its forward attachment centrally and pivotally in any of the usual modes to the reach A.

D is the bolster, and E the cross-lwam, ol' the rear sled, the latter being pivotally seated in any suitable manner upon the runners F.

A circular recess, G, is formed centrally in the lower surface of the bolster D transversely of the latter, and a like recess, II, formed opposite on the upper surface ofthe beam E.

A metallic box, J, is formed interiorly to surround and fit the reach A and seated between the bolster D and beam E. The central portion, K, of the box J is rounded exteriorly, so as to rotate laterally freely in said recesses and between said bolster and beam. As the box J fits reach A externally, any lateral twisting of said'reach occasioned by the change of the relative altitudes of any of the runners, either rear or front, causes said reach to 'rotatefreely in the recesses G and H, carrying box J with it. This provision freely permits changes in the Vertical altitudes of any one or more of the runners without imparting any torsional strain to the reach A;

but in order to assure the necessary vertical position of the rear bolster and beam the box J is further provided with the upwardlyextending flanges L, which respectively lie along and abut against a portion of the front and rear sides of the bolster D, and the downwardly-extendin g flanges M and N, which lie,

respectively, along and abut against a portion of the front and rear of the beam E, thus rigidly holding said bolster and beam vertical and in a line perpendicular to that of the reach A. As there is no movement between the box J and the reach A, there is never any attrition or wear of the latter, and the grasp of the flanges L and M of the box J upon the bolster D and beam E, respectively,is extended over such area that the usual tendency of the longitudinal oscillation of the beam E and bolster D is precluded, while the engagement of such flanges with the said bolster and beam, respectively, is without any wear or attrition at the point of their engagement. Therefore my invention in this regard rigidly retains said beam and bolster in a vertical position, and there being no loosening or consequent wear at the engagement localities the mechanism is both satisfactory and durable.

The box .I is provided with horizontal forward and rearward proj ections,M and N,which lie along the underside of the reach A and enable the latter to more successfully control the rear beam and bolster in a vertical plane.

My device would operate successfully with but one pair of flanges, L or M; but I deem the joint action of both pairs preferable.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The combination of the bolster D, provided with the recess G, the beam E, provided with the recess H, the metallic box J, provi ded with the upwardly-extending flanges L and the downwardly-extending flanges M, and the reach A, whereby the latter through the medium of said box holds said beam and bolster in. a vertical position, substantially as shown.

2. The combination of the bolster D, provided with the recess G, the beam E, provided with the recess II, the metallic box J, provided with the upwardly-extending flanges L, the downward]y-extending flanges M, and the horizontal projections N, and the reach A, whereby. said box' is held in place, substantially as shown, and for the purpose described.

In testimony whcreoE I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES F. PLATT.

\Vitnesses:

JOHN G. .MANAHAN, CHAT'IIE L. MANAHAN. 

